Fetus in three layers of darkness. Meaning?

Fetus in three layers of darkness. Meaning?

The author of wikiislam.net says:

" The word butun (بطن) means belly/abdomen/midriff, though some translators like to use the more specific word "womb". Tafsirs interpreted the "three darknesses" as the placenta, womb (uterus) and belly. There are in fact many more layers in the human body such as the endometrium, myometrium, perimetrium, peritoneum, besides the cervix uteri, corpus uteri, abdomen (with walls), and placenta (with layers). The idea of three membranes around the fetus (chorion, allantois, and amnion) was taught by the highly influential Greek physician, Galen. Perhaps the Qur'anic author is simply repeating this idea, which applies only to the embryonic membranes.

The allantois is a sac-like structure which becomes part of the umbilical cord, hardly a 'a darkness' for the embryo. The other two membranes, the chorion and amnion, together form the amniotic sac, which is quite thin and transparent.

He created you from one soul. Then He made from it its mate, and He produced for you from the grazing livestock eight mates. He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation, within three darknesses. That is Allah, your Lord; to Him belongs dominion. There is no deity except Him, so how are you averted?    Quran 39:6

REPLY:

Let us see the verse:

 يَخْلُقُكُمْ فِي بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ خَلْقًا مِنْ بَعْدِ خَلْقٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتٍ ثَلاَثٍ

"He shapes you in the wombs of your mothers from one creative phase into the next in sequence (and completes the process) in three layers of darkness.'' Al Quran 39:6 (translation by Dr Tahir Ul Qadri)

It seems that the author of wikiislam.net desires to prove the Holy Quran wrong by hook or by crook. He stressfully mingles the Quranic verse with Greek embryology and relies on his personal interpretation that the ''three veils of darkness'' refer to ''allantois, chorion, and amnion''. It is against the case. The best tafsir is the one that came in Hadith. We read in Majma Ul Bayan Volume 8 page 766:

عن ابی جعفر علیہ السلام ؛ ظلمۃ البطن و ظلمۃ الرحم و ظلمۃ المشیمۃ

''It is reported from Abu Jaffar (Imam e Baqir) AS that (three veils of darkness means); the darkness of abdomen, the darkness of the womb, and darkness of placenta.''

Imam Baqir AS belonged to the era when the Greek Science was widely studied in the Islamic world. If this verse referred to the three layers described by Greek Galen, and (Naozubillah) Holy Prophet SAW copied it then Imam Baqir AS should have referred to them in his interpretation. It simply divulges the blunt lie of wikiislam and debunks his attempts to prove the Holy Quran as a copy of Greek mythology.

One should remember that the word بطن has dual meanings. It is used as a metaphor (general way to refer the pregnancy of a woman. The Arabs used to say when a woman is pregnant ''she has a child in her abdomen'')  as well as in the true meanings of the abdomen and womb. If we translate it as a metaphor then the three layers of darkness refer to ''abdomen, womb, and placenta'' as described in the hadith. If we translate it as womb then it refers to three layers ''perimetrium, myometrium, and endometrium.''It may refer to the three germinal layers of the embryo,'' ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm.'' Another possible interpretation is the three main stages of Human development:

(i) Pre-embryonic stages (first two and a half weeks)
(ii) Embryonic stage (up to the end of the eighth week)

(iii) Foetal stage (from the eighth week till birth)

Relying on the interpretation that came in Hadith we are impelled to think why did the Holy Quran specifically mentioned the three layers and in the other verse (23:13) referred to them and womb as قرار مکین ''a firm lodging.'' We find the answer in the modern-day embryology that: ''The uterus is for Nutfah (zygote) as well as the other embryonic stages, a lodging for the foetus for nine months. Although the body normally rejects any foreign material, the embryo lodges the foetus and nourishes him. The uterus has muscles and ligaments which protects the foetus within it. It also responds to the foetal growth and expands to a great extent to accommodate him. The foetus is surrounded by amniotic fluid, the amniotic membrane, the placenta, the uterus' thick muscular layer and the abdominal wall. All of these provide the foetus with a suitable place of settlement for its proper growth. The Uterus is in the middle of the body and the centre of the pelvis, surrounded by bones, muscles and ligaments that position it firmly in the body. (Human Development as described in Quran And Sunnah by A Zindani, Marshall Johnson, Gerald C. Goeringer, Joe Leigh Simpson, Keith L. Moore, Mustafa A. Ahmad, and T.V.N. Persuad page 48 to 50) After describing all that beautiful artistry of Him, Allah swt asks the human beings: 

فانی تصرفون

''Then, how you averted?''

Then how you averted from you Lord who shaped you in the womb of your mother. A man is a result of billions and trillions of the mitotic and meiotic divisions. At every point, he is vulnerable to be destructed. A mistake in meiosis or mitosis, transcription or translation, organogenesis or embryogenesis or some other stage can result in his death or crippled creation. Furthermore, a bit change in temperature or lack of nutrition or some physical or chemical agent can also lead to the same. Glory is to Lord and His beautiful artistry Who has made the system of protection of human at every point. Relating to the physical environment, He protects him in the womb which is a firm lodging, and then in three layers of darkness, each of them performing its function either providing him with nutrition or serving him with protection. Glory is to the Lord Who creates a full stout human from microscopic germ cells, Who protects him when he is vulnerable to any of accident or attack, Who has created such a beautiful system. Praiseworthy is He.

Allah swt says in Chapter no. 80 verse 17-23:

قتل الانسان ما اکفرہ0من ای شیء خلقہ0من نطفۃ خلقہ فقدرہ0 ثم السبیل یسرہ0 ثم اماتہ فاقبرہ0 ثم اذا اشاء انشرہ0 کلا لما یقضی ما امرہ0

''Woe!to the man, how ungrateful is He.From what stuff Allah has created him? He created him from a sperm and then determined his fate (from it regarding sex and genes). Then He eased his passage (of delivery or passage of life or passage of creation). Then cased him to die and buried in the grave. Then whenever He wills He will cause him to rise up alive again. VERILY, the (the ungrateful and disobedient man) did not fulfil the obligatory due that Allah has commanded him.''

All things created in pairs

All things created in pair:

The filthy authors claimed:

Not every creature procreates or reproduces through male and female sexual relationship. The whiptail lizard in the U.S. Southwest, Mexico, and South America, is an all-females species which reproduces by parthenogenesis. Viruses reproduce using a host's DNA and are neither female nor male. Bacteria reproduce by cell division. Fungus can reproduce either sexually or asexually. Many species of plants also reproduce either asexually or through pollination.

And of every thing We have created pairs: That ye may receive instruction.

Qur'an 51:49

Glory to Allah, Who created in pairs all things that the earth produces, as well as their own (human) kind and (other) things of which they have no knowledge.

Qur'an 36:36

REPLY:

The First verse is:

وَمِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَا زَوْجَيْنِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ

"49. And of everything We have created two pairs so that you may concentrate and understand."

The following claim is based on their ignorance of Arabic language and grammar. Even an initial grammar student knows that من is حرف تبعیض which if comes before کل it means ''most of'' and not ''all'. This word infers that there can be some exceptions to the above statement. A similar example is   Surah Al Kahf Chapter # 18 verse # 84:

وَآتَيْنَاهُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ سَبَبًا

"And we granted him (Dhul Qarnain) (from) all the resources."

The word من here implies that he was granted with (almost) all of the resources (of his time) and not all.The similar is the case with the verse quoted in the above claim.

 So, the whole stance of wikiislam gets destroyed up.We ask them to learn grammar first and then pose their filthy claims.

The Second verse is:

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الأَزْوَاجَ كُلَّهَا مِمَّا تُنْبِتُ الأَرْضُ وَمِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمِمَّا لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ (يس: 36). 

 "Glory be to Him who created all the pairs (all those things which are in pairs) of those which grow from Earth (plants) and of themselves as well, and of things they do not know.''

The verse carries no error because it is addressing the things which are in pairs.

Everything in pair:

Lets us take a look at what pairs means:

1. Parity in all living organisms: humans, animals and plants;

2. Parity in reproductive cells (gametes): (ovum) and sperm;

3. Parity in the male sperm that contains either a male or female sex chromosome;

4. Parity in chromosomes that are present inside the nucleus of a living cell;

5. Parity in genes that carry heredity information and which are located on every chromosome

from these ones.

6. Parity in nucleic acid structure;

7. How the four nitrogenous bases that build the (” steps”) of the DNA connect together in a parity.

8. Parity in how the deoxyribose molecule (organic) is linked with the phosphate molecule

(non-organic) to form the (“sides”) of a DNA molecule;

9. Parity in the building

of amino acids in both its forms: right-handed isomers and left-handed isomers;

10. Parity in proteins and anti –proteins.

11. Parity in the molecule by its two parts positive (cat ions) and negative (anions);

12. Parity in the atom and its nucleus which has a positive charge and its electrons which have

a negative charge;

13. Parity in particles and antiparticles – it means in existence and non- existence.

14. Parity in the primary units of the matter and its opposing elements;-it means in existence

and non- existence.

17. Parity in matter and energy, which are two sides of the same coin and two forms of the same

essence that signifies the Oneness of the Great Creator.

15. Parity in matter and antimatter it means in existence and non- existence.

16. Parity in positive and negative energy charges;

All the living things occur in pair because they have got sex chromosomes.

In the examples quoted by wikiislam the organism's femalenss or malesness is determined by sex

chromosomes wich are in pair,or by positive or negative mating strains that are also in pairs.

SO all the things are in pair.

Formation Of Bones and Muscles And The Holy Quran

Formation Of Bones and Muscles And The Holy Quran

The Qur'an explains that the bones of a human embryo are formed first and then covered up with flesh. Modern scientific studies and research have shown that the cartilage models and muscles start to form at the same time and in parallel. Muscles have started to form before the cartilage models start to be replaced with bone.

Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then of that clot We made a (foetus) lump; then we made out of that lump bones then (not and) clothed the bones with flesh; then we developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah, the best to create!

Qur'an 23:14

The Qur'an again parallels the influential Greek physician Galen, who says:

And now the third period of gestation has come. After nature has made outlines of all the organs and the substance of the semen is used up, the time has come for nature to articulate the organs precisely and to bring all the parts to completion. Thus it caused flesh to grow on and around all the bones...

Galen, On semen, p.101

REPLY:

The verse quoted by the author of wikiislam.net is Surah Al Muminoon Chapter 23 verse 14:

ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا النُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْمُضْغَةَ عِظَامًا فَكَسَوْنَا الْعِظَامَ لَحْمًا ثُمَّ أَنْشَأْنَاهُ خَلْقًا آخَرَ ۚ فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ

Translation:

"Then We made that zygote a hanging mass (clinging to the uterus like a leech). Then We developed that hanging mass into a lump, looking chewed with teeth. Out of this chewed lump, We built a structure of bones which We clothed with flesh (and muscles). Then (changing him) into another form, We developed him (gradually) into a new creation. Then Allah, the Best of creators, brought (him up into a strong body)."

                                                                  Translation from Irfan Ul Quran by Dr. Tahir Ul Qadri

The verse says فَخَلَقْنَا الْمُضْغَةَ عِظَامًا فَكَسَوْنَا الْعِظَامَ لَحْمًا and uses the CONJUNCTION فَ which is used for عطف and we read in Arabic dictionaries that is used :

"(in the sense of)and, (this conjunction has less conjunctive power than) و ''

1. Lane's Lexicon page 2376
2. Steingass page 769
3. Dictionary and Glossary of Holy Quran by Penrice page 106

Thus lexicographically, a meaning of this part of verse is "Then We developed that mass into a lump,looking chewed with teeth.Out of this hewed lump We built a structure of bones Which we clothed with muscles." This conjunction here does not convey the meaning of delay.Rather, just conjuncts the two things.The verse says that the Muscles and the bones are developed adjacently and as soon as bones are formed they are clothed with flesh.That is why in hadiths formation of bones and their clothing with flesh is described as a single stage.We read in Tafseer Noor Us Saqalain Chapter 39 Hadith 8:

انه يخلق في بطن أمه خلقا من بعد خلق، يكون نطفة أربعين يوما ثم يكون علقة أربعين يوما، ثم مضغة أربعين يوما ففى النطفة     أربعون دينارا، وفى العلقة ستون دينارا، وفى المضغة ثمانون دينارا، فإذا اكتسى العظام لحما ففيه مأة دينار

"He creates you in the womb of your mother a creation after a creation (39:6).It is a Nutfa for forty days,then becomes an Alaqa for forty days,the Embryo for forty days,SO with regard to Nutfa it is forty Dinars, and Regarding the Alaqa it is Sixty Dinars,and regarding the embryo it is Eighty Dinars.When it is ''bones clothed with muscles" so it is one hundred Dinars."

From the hadith we can see that the formation of bones and their clothing with flesh is a single stage and their is no delay in them.If it had been so then in the Hadith there would be 100 Dinars for Bony Embryo and 120 Dinars for when it is clothed with flesh and we had been described for the two stages separately.Thus it means that muscles and bones are formed adjacently, and bones are clothed with flesh in the same stage and there is no delay in the formation both two.We read in Sahih Muslim Book 46 Hadith 4:

 إِذَا مَرَّ بِالنُّطْفَةِ ثِنْتَانِ وَأَرْبَعُونَ لَيْلَةً بَعَثَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهَا مَلَكًا فَصَوَّرَهَا وَخَلَقَ سَمْعَهَا وَبَصَرَهَا وَجِلْدَهَا وَلَحْمَهَا وَعِظَامَهَا

"When forty-two nights pass after the semen gets into the womb, Allah sends the angel and gives him shape. Then he creates his sense of hearing, sense of sight, his skin, his flesh, his bones,"

Here the formation of bones is discussed after discussing the formation of muscles.And at some places formation of bones is discussed first.Thus they are used interchangeably showing that there is no difference or delay in their formation.They are formed almost adjacently and as soon as a bone part is formed it gets clothed with flesh.We read in:

Human Development as Described in Quran and Sunnah by Keith L. Moore, A. Zindani page 84

"Although precursor cells(myoblasts) are present adjacent to the developing bone,differentiation into skeletal muscle attachments occur after the ossification process in the shaft and the ends of the bones has begun."

Thus both are formed adjacently but the clothing of bone with flesh occurs as soon as bone is formed.

Thus it is clear that The Holy Qur'an does not explain that the bones of a human embryo are formed first and then covered up with flesh

Even if we for the sake of argument consider the claim true,then too it is not wrong because Some bones are also formed in the seventh week while formation of muscles starts in 8th week of human development.See Human Development as Described in Quran and Sunnah by Keith L. Moore, A. Zindani page 83. 

To sum up,the Holy Quran,the Hadith and Science all are in perfect agreement to each other that muscles and bones are formed adjacently and bones are clothed with flesh as soon as they are formed.

Sex Determination Of Embryo And Quran

Sex Determination Of Embryo And Quran

In this article we shall refute a false claim by wikiislam.net. The author unaware of Embryology says that the Holy Quran describes that the gender of the embryo is determined after the formation of "ALAQAH"(see our previous article to clear the meaning) and it is determined at the time of conception.In Embryology gender determination is taken at two places.First one is at the time of conception because actually gender is determined at this point.The second one is at the formation of sexual organs.The Holy Quran has pointed at both stages but the author of  wikiislam.net veiled other verses.Here we quote both type of verse.

Quran And Gender Determination At The Time Of Conception:

1. We read in Surah Abasa Chapter # 80 verse 19:

"Created from sperm and determined his nature(Taqdeer)."

Creation from sperm means the time of conception and the verse explicitly describes that nature(taqdeer/fate) is determined at this point.The fate includes whether it would be a male or female?,How long would he live?,How much food would he get etc./?

2. We read in Surah Mursilat  Chapter 77 verses 20-23:

"Didn't we create you from a liquid disdained?And we placed it in a firm lodging.For a known extent.And we determined its nature(taqdeer) and excellent we determine."

Again the verse says that taqdeer is determined at the time of conception as the words "created from liquid disdained" describe.

3. The third verse we are going to quote is very much clear at this point.It is Surah An Najam Chapter 53 verse 45-46:

"And he creates two mates-male and female from sperm when it is emitted."

This verse is very much clear at the point that whether a male or female will form,is determined at the point of conception

Quran And Gender Determination After The Formation Of ALAQA:

In second type of verses.It is described that male and female are formed after the formation of Alaqa i.e. organogenesis. Here is the verse.

We read in Surah Al Qiyamah Chhapter # 75 verse # 37:

"Had not it been a sperm from semen emitted.Then he was a a clinging clot,and created and proportioned him.And made of him two mates male and female."

This verse says that male and female gender form after the formation of Alaqa and it is right.Male and Female gender form after the formation of sexual organ which is after ALAQA formation.

Clarification:
The first type of verses describe when the determination of male and female gender occurs.The answer clear from the verses is at the time of conception.The second type of verses describes when this determination happen. The answer from the verse is after the formation of sexual organs.There is no need here to quote a reference from embryology to show that gender determination occurs at the time of conception because it has itself been described by the author of wikiislam.net. Hereby we quote a reference to show that gender determination happens at the formation of sexual organs in between 22-36 week.See:

The Developing Human Clinically Oriented Embryology 10th Edition by Keith L. Moore,T.V.N Persaud,Mark G. Torchia page # 270

Creation From A Clot Of Blood

Creation From A Clot Of Blood:

In this article ,the author of wikiislam.net poses a question upon the Muslims regarding the ayah Chapter # 96 verse #2 which says:

خَلَقَ الإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ 

"Created man from Alaq."

In normal classical interpretations the word "Alaq" is usually translated as " a clot of blood."However the word "Alaq" has several meanings listed as:

1.to stick
2.to cling
3.to get attached
4.leech
5.blood clot

See Hans' Wehr 4th edition page no. 742,Lanes Lexicon page 2132.We read in Mufridat e Imam Raghib Isfahani (Remember that he died in 502 hijri and was a prominent Muslim scholar of Quranic exegesis and Arabic Language) Vol 2 page no. 156:

"The word 'alaq' means to suspend/to cling,to stick,medicinal leech:a type of insect which attaches with throat,furthermore clotted blood; of the same type (like leech) from which embryo develops as in Quran Chapter 96 verse 2."

All these meanings are scientifically correct.Let us see them one by one:

1.It is a proven fact in Embryology that embryo is sticky and sticks to uterine wall.As is indicated by the reference given in the next point.

2.We read in Human Development 9th Edition by Papalia page 90:

"the trophoblast, the outer cell layer of the blastocyst produces tiny thread-like structures that penetrate the lining of the uterine wall and enable the developing human to cling there until it is fully implanted in the uterine lining."
So the meaning to cling is scientifically proven.

3.The embryo gets attached to the uterine wall as is indicated with the above reference so this meaning also holds.

4.Another meaning is ''a leech like structure.'',which has also been described by Imam Raghib Isfahani as quoted above.Imam Raghib described Alaq as a leech like bloody clot.The same is the meaning which surprised Prof. Keith Moore,and he found a striking resemblance between Leech and Human Embryo of almost 26-30 days.It can be depicted by following diagram provided by:

https://islampapers.com/2013/01/19/response-to-dr-william-campbell/

The diagrams explicitly explain the resemblance between an embryo of 26-30 days.Another resemblance is that both get food and nourishment from blood.

5.The fifth meaning is blood clot.At this stage the blood of the embryo is blocked in blocked in blood vessels and its appearance is clot like.As illustrated in this diagram:

In short,all meanings are in perfect assignment with science:
the meaning blood clot is with respect to appearance, the meaning Leech like is with respect to structure and nourishment-method and the meaning clinging or sticky is with respect to its function.

A Question And Its Answer:
The author of wikiislam.net and other propaganda sites claim that we can not use the alternative meaning for the same word because they were not common at that time and if they had they must had been in classical tafseers. All this propaganda is due to lack of knowledge.First thing is that the Holy Quran is from its time of revelation till the day of resurrection and its meanings are not bounded.The second thing is that old interpretations laid stress to the meaning blood clot because they found this meaning in accordance with the science of their time i.e. the Greek science.However the scholars did not bind the meaning they also said it may mean the sticky mud from which Adam AS was mud,or it may mean Nutfah sperm etc.They took the meaning blood clot because it sticky.Some proofs of this claim are:

1.The Saying Of Imam Raghib Isfahani:

Imam Raghib Isfahani (he died in 502 hijri and was a prominent Muslim scholar of Quranic exegesis and Arabic Language) says in his book Mufridat vol.2 page 156:

"The word 'alaq' means to suspend/to cling,to stick,medicinal leech:a type of insect which attaches with throat,furthermore clotted blood; of the same type (like leech) from which embryo develops as in Quran Chapter 96 verse 2."

2.The Description Of Tafseer Roh Ul Maani and Roh Ul Bayan:

The famous classical interpretations of the Holy Quran Tafsir Roh Ul Maani by Alosi and Tafseer Roh Ul Bayan by Haqqi suggest the meaning of the clay from which Adam AS was formed or sperm.

See:

1. Tafseer Roh Ul Maani Vol 30 page 180 collectively page 6735

2. Tafseer Roh Ul Bayan Vol 10 page 472

3.The Description Of Tafsir Al Mizan:

The famous interpretation these days Al Mizan by Tabatabai Vol 20 on page 371 says:

"Alaq is the clotted blood and the meaning the sperm in the womb(embryo) is also possible."

4.The Description Of Tafseer e Namoona:

Ayoutullah Makarim in his interpretation Tafsir e Namoona Vol 27 page 150 says:

" the word Alaqa actually gives the meaning of something clinging however blood clot and leech are also referred to as Alaqa because which sticks to the body and as embryo gets the sticky clot like shape in the first stage so it is referred as 'Alaqa'."

He also discuses the meaning of sticky mud from which Adam was made.

In short al meanings of Alaqa are in perfect agreement with science.

Female Ovum Mentioned In Quran

Female Ovum Mentioned In Quran

The Holy Quran has described female ovum in a nut-shell.We read in Holy Quran Surah Ad-Dahar Chapter 76 verse 2:

إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا

"Verily we created man out of sperm intermingled so that we might try him and we made him seeing and hearing."

We read in Tafsir Al-Qummi vol 2 page 398:

"And in report Abu AL-Jaroud ,
 Au Jafar(AS) regarding the words of High "Surely We created man from small life-germ uniting(76:2)" he(AS) said:"The mixing of water of man and water of woman."

The words water of man and water of man refers to the seminal fluids of male containing sperm and seminal fluid of female containing sperm. 

Moreover,the word Nutfah refers to both egg(sperm of woman) and sperm(of man).See: Dic. of Quran by M.G. Farid page 781 and Al-Munjid page 821.

23:12-14 And indeed, We created humankind from an essence of clay. Then We placed him as a drop in a firm resting place. Then We created the drop into a clinging substance, then We created the clinging substance into an embryonic lump, then We created the embryonic lump into bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh; then We produce it as another creation. So blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.

(The Arabic word “nut’fat” (drop) is both male’s and female’s secretion. Some translations of the Qur’an are correct calling it “fertilized ovum/egg” or “male and female gamete” or “zygote” (sperm and ovum fused), or “drop”. But other translations are wrong interpreting it as “sperm” or “semen”)(The drop/zygote (sperm and ovum fused) is placed in a firm resting place (uterus or womb), the drop/zygote becomes a clinging substance (blastocyst), the clinging substance is implanted/embedded in the uterine wall, and it develops into an embryonic lump)(Allah knows best)

(if anyone has any question,argument regarding this or any article on this blog then please comment or mail at imtiazbashir7@gmail.com)

Does The Holy Quran Says That Embryo Is Initially Formed From Semen?

Reply To The Article,"Embryo Initially Formed Of Semen"

The author of wikiislam.net says:

The author of the Qur'an describes the initial formation of a human embryo out of fluid emanating from the man (and possibly also of the woman), which is stored in the womb. This reflects the contemporary, but incorrect, view that the material for the embryo is initially formed out of semen, as taught by Hippocrates, Galen, and the Jewish Talmud. In fact, semen is the vehicle for the sperm cells, one of which fuses with a woman's ovum in her fallopian tube, and the resulting cell divides and travels back into the womb for implantation.

While English translations mention a "drop of seed", or "drop of sperm", the Arabic word in question is nutfah, which literally means a small amount of liquid, a euphemism for semen.

Did We not create you from a liquid disdained? And We placed it in a firm lodging For a known extent.

Qur'an 77:20-22

Then placed him as a drop (of seed) [nutfah] in a safe lodging;

Qur'an 23:13

From what thing doth He create him? From a drop of seed [nutfah]. He createth him and proportioneth him

Qur'an 80:18-19

Indeed, We created man from a sperm-drop mixture [nutfatin amshajin] that We may try him; and We made him hearing and seeing.

Qur'an 76:2

Reply:

The Holy Quran says in Surah Al Qiyamah Chapter #75 verse 37:

أَلَمْ يَكُ نُطْفَةً مِّن مَّنِىٍّ يُمْنَىٰ

"Has not it be a sperm from the liquid gushed forth?"

The Holy Quran has explicitly described that there is only a single sperm from the semen of man involved in fertilization.Not the whole semen is involved.We read in a hadith:

"Not the whole of the semen makes embryo but only a sperm from it."

The author of wikiislam.net has quoted four verses from the Holy Quran but unfortunately no one proves his claim.


The first verse is Surah Musrsilat Chapter 77 verse 20:

أَلَمْ نَخْلُقْكُمْ مِنْ مَاءٍ مَهِينٍ

"Has not we created you from (a part of) of fluid disdained?"

Here we have put the words "(a part of)" in the translation for two reasons:
1.The Arabic word min is Hurf e Baz which is used to refer some portion of a thing.
2.The parallel verse of this verse is Surah As Sajda Chapter 32 verse 8:

ثُمَّ جَعَلَ نَسْلَهُ مِنْ سُلَالَةٍ مِنْ مَاءٍ مَهِينٍ

"Then we automated the creation of his progeny by a SPERM from a despicable fluid."

The word سُلَالَة also means SPERM.See: Steingess Arabic -English Dictionary page 502

The Arabic word 'sulalah' also means quintessence or the best part of a whole. We have come to know now that only one single spermatozoan that penetrates the ovum is required for fertilization, out of the several millions produced by man. That one spermatozoan out of several millions, is referred to in the QUR'AN as 'sulalah'.

So the claim using the Chapter 77 verse 20 is totally false because the parallel verse of this verse explains the verse.And it is not a contradiction.Because one verse describes that man is created from semen and second one describes which part of the semen.

The second verse is Surah Muminun Chapter 23 verse 13:

ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاهُ نُطْفَةً فِي قَرَارٍ مَكِينٍ

"Then Placed it as a Nutfah in a firm lodging."

This verse also does not convey that man is created from semen.Because it says man is created from Nutfah which means sperm or egg not semen.

The third verse is Surah Abasa Chapter 80 verse 19:

مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ خَلَقَهُ فَقَدَّرَهُ

"From sperm and then determined his nature."

The verse also says man is created from nutfah which means sperm or egg not semen.

The fourth verse is Surah Dahr Chapter 76 verse 2:

إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا

"Verily we created man out of sperm intermingled so that we might try him and we made him seeing and hearing."

Let us make it clear that the word Nutfah refers to both egg(sperm of woman) and sperm(of man).See: Dic. of Quran by M.G. Farid page 781 and Al-Munjid page 821.

The phrase نُطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ means sperm of man intermingled with egg of woman.We read in Tafsir Al-Qummi vol 2 page 398:

"And in report Abu AL-Jaroud ,
 Au Jafar(AS) regarding the words of High "Surely We created man from small life-germ uniting(76:2)" he(AS) said:"The mixing of water of man and water of woman."

The words water of man and water of man refers to the seminal fluids of male and female containing sperm and egg.
The author of wikiislam.net laid great stress on the word NUTFAH. Here we give refernece that it means"sperm" especially and not semen(which the author has taken from nutfah's meaning drop).

1.Hans Wehr 4th edition. page 1142
2.Dic. and Glos of Quran by penrice page 148
3.Dic. of Holy Quran bu M.G.farid page 781
4.Al Munjid page 821
5.Dictionary of the Holy Quran page 567

(if anyone has any question,argument regarding this or any article on this blog then please comment or mail at imtiazbashir7@gmail.com)